By: Linda Kamala
Infrastructure development in Indonesia, especially the toll road to the Indonesian Capital City (IKN) in East Kalimantan, has reached a crucial stage with the functional start of the IKN Toll Road. Even though it is still in the final stages, it can open up big opportunities to speed up mobility and access to IKN, which has so far been considered too far and difficult to reach.
With the operation of this toll road, the distance from various big cities in Indonesia to IKN will be much shorter, thus having a significant positive impact on economic development and investment in the region.
Apart from that, this step also marks the increasingly mature readiness of IKN infrastructure, underlining the government’s commitment to realizing the new capital as a center for economic growth and modern government. This is an important momentum that deserves attention and optimization to encourage further development, creating new hopes for the national economy.
President Joko Widodo has emphasized on various occasions how important adequate infrastructure is to support the development of IKN. He said that the toll road and airport which are currently being built will be the backbone of accessibility to IKN. It cannot be denied that fast and efficient access will be a determining factor in the success of relocating the capital city and developing the surrounding area.
During his visit to the IKN location, President Joko Widodo explained that currently the journey from Sepaku District to the IKN center takes a little over two hours. However, with the existence of a toll road whose construction progress has reached 60%, the journey is expected to be drastically reduced to around 40 to 50 minutes. This will certainly change the perception of many people who have thought that the IKN location is too far and difficult to reach.
President Joko Widodo also explored the commitment of the Minister of Public Works and Public Housing (PUPR) Basuki Hadimuljono regarding the target for completing the toll road. The President emphasized that the construction of this toll road must be completed by the end of 2024, so that it can be immediately used by the public. This pressure shows how important this infrastructure is in the big plan to move the capital.
Apart from toll roads, Nusantara Airport is also a major concern in facilitating access to IKN. This airport is expected to be completed by the end of August 2024, with a 2,200 meter long runway that will allow commercial flights from various major cities in Indonesia directly to IKN.
The President said that this airport was originally designed to serve VVIP flights, but has now been changed to be able to serve commercial flights. This is a strategic step to open access to IKN for the wider community, which in turn is expected to increase national mobility and connectivity.
The existence of adequate toll roads and airports will make the distance between IKN and big cities in Indonesia, such as Jakarta, Surabaya, Bandung, Medan and Makassar, feel closer. It is hoped that this travel time efficiency will attract the interest of investors, entrepreneurs and the general public to see IKN as a promising center for new economic growth.
Ahead of the celebration of Indonesia’s 79th Independence Day, the IKN Toll Road will begin operating functionally on 10-18 August 2024. This is a tactical step to meet urgent needs related to the celebration of independence which will involve many activities around the IKN area. According to the Chair of the IKN Infrastructure Development Implementation Task Force, Danis Sumadilaga, this toll road will be fully operational 24 hours throughout this period.
This functional toll road is not yet fully completed, but the PUPR Ministry ensures that traffic flow on this toll road will be closely monitored during its operational period. Currently, final work is being carried out, including installing banners and improving expansion joint points to ensure smooth traffic and the safety of road users.
The decision to open the toll road functionally reflects the government’s urgency in completing infrastructure projects which are the backbone of IKN. Apart from that, it is also hoped that this step will be a sign of IKN’s readiness as the center of Indonesia’s new government and economy. With the opening of this toll road, the public can feel directly the positive impact of IKN development, which is expected to bring this new capital city closer to all Indonesian people.
The start of functional operations of the IKN Toll Road is not just an infrastructure achievement, but also a symbol of the government’s commitment to realizing the capital city of the archipelago as a center for economic growth and a new government.
It is hoped that the presence of this toll road will accelerate the development of the surrounding area, attract more investors and facilitate community mobility. With increasingly easier access, it is hoped that new opportunities will emerge for business and industrial development in the IKN area.
This is the first step towards realizing the grand vision of building a new capital city that can change the national economic landscape. It is important for all of us to continue to support and monitor the development of this project, ensuring that all plans and targets can be achieved successfully.
Let us welcome it with enthusiasm and optimism, and play an active role in advancing IKN so that it becomes the center of new dynamics that will provide great benefits for the Indonesian economy in the future.
Economic and Business Observer